kalamazoo

Really great looking candles. It almost looks like it has a design painted onto it. The shape of the candle is very nice too - are you using polycarbonate moulds?

They will be very happy with that gift. It is really perfect. One day I hope to be able to make a photo cane like that.

Really great looking pillars. Love the touch of green on the left one. Fantastic way to use up the ginger FO!

They look very nice, I like the shape on the bottom - my tart moulds are not that well defined. I love the name "Lemon go Lightly". Sorry, cannot help with pricing them.

How many inches is that in diameter. I have only ever gone up to a LX24 in my 3" pillars. Is it really necessary that these muffins self consume completely? - surely some shell would be ok with a novelty candle like this. Smoking wicks, sounds like you need to trim them a little? By the way very well done with the icing on that - looks so real.

That is a stunning colour! Very beautiful candle.

Thanks everyone for the nice comments. When my DH saw it he just said "Wow", and he hardly ever comments about my candles. I really want to try putting a glass tealight cup in the mould and try and make everlasting candles, like CandleMan suggested - but I guess one would then scent the tealights, not the whole candle? Leesters: I made that red colour using red liquid dye and shavings of orange dye block to tone it down a bit. Handmade: The dimensions of the mould are 6" x 6" x 2"

Thanks for the nice comment Sabrina. I think Candlechem have this mould. The colouring was quite a challenge - took me ages. Kept notes and the small drops of colour I poured onto paper, so next time will be a little easier.

Thanks. This is the first one I have made. I used the wick that came with the mould - looks like it could be 15 or 18 flat ply. Not going to burn this one just yet. Wicked up the mould again using 15ply and will make something a little less strong and maybe more rustic and burn that. Don´t think it is going to be great to burn these, certainly going to leave some kinda shell. Will post pics when I eventually start test burning these.

Been dying to try out this new mould and really wanted to get a good mottle this time. This is using straight paraffin, some stearin and a heavy load of FO. Serengeti Sunset is from AH/RE. I am really pleased with it. Thanks for looking.

Very nice candles. I like the shiny and rustic combined, so I don´t think it is a mistake even if that is not what you really wanted. Even when I pour a few candles together I find it hard to get the layers all the same level, but that is what makes them handmade!

Seriously delicious looking muffin there - (scurry off the cupboard to find a piece of chocolate or something to eat). As for the bottom part looking "white", for a few secs I thought that was a real muffin case, before I read your comments. I like the texture on the top of the muffin too. Test burning something so nice is a real PITA, but its gotta be done - good luck and let us know how it goes.:smiley2:

Both really great and love the colours of the small pillar. Looks like you started off by doing the draped layer technique, or maybe it is just good "swirling". What on earth does DragonFire smell like - is it kinda spicy?

Well, I pulled this out of the mould this a.m. hoping that I would have distinct layers of rustic and mottle and this is what I got. I was not sure how to do this candle, so I divided the wax for the mould into 2 portions. I made up the rustic portion with 5% stearic and 4.5% FO and the mottle portion I did with 3% stearic and 6% FO. Started off with 2 rustic layers, then 2 mottled, then 1 rustic and last one mottle. Poured rustic layers coolish and mottle a bit hotter. Pic 1 is "front" side, pic 2 "back" and of course the bottom of the candle where all the mottling seems to have taken place. The scent is Creme Brulee and it does smell great. Any advice on how to get more distinct mottle/rustic layering greatly appreciated:smiley2:

Making my mouth drool looking at those, fantastic colours and a lot of work. I think I counted 11 layers in the green one? Very well done.

I am sure whoever receives one of these candles will be thrilled. A lovely gift and nicely done.

Very nicely done. You are very talented and I love looking at your work. Bet the bowl will look beautiful with the floating daisy candles - yes I can see it now on my dining room table.!! (I wish)

Thanks Scented, I don´t know why I wrote that all were made with mottling wax, probably just saw a few posts and just assumed that this type of candle was made with this type of wax. Anyway, did the candle, and it is cooling downstairs. The mould feels quite warm so not sure how much of the rustic will be evident. Did not want to take a cool cloth to it either as this may interupt the mottling. Will unmould tomorrow and post a pic - probably have a lot more questions.:rolleyes2

I am going to try and make a rustic & mottle layer candle - I have seen some great ones on the gallery ages ago, but they were all done with mottling wax. I do not have this type of wax, I use straight paraffin. I was thinking of dividing my wax into two portions. In the one add my usual 5% stearic and 4.5% FO for the rustic layers and in the other portion lower the stearic % but increase the FO % to over 5% for the mottle layers. Pour at cool temp as usual. Has anyone tried this? Would there be an easier way to do this i.e. just bump up the FO for the whole portion of wax. Do I need to pour the mottle layers hotter than the rustic ones? Sorry for all the ? but any thoughts, ideas, suggestions much appreciated before I go off and experiment.:smiley2:

Hi Wick, I normally put 5% Stearin into my straight paraffin and it seems to work OK. The pics of candles I recently posted on the gallery were using this mix. I start pouring my first layer at 150 and each layer go up a bit in temp, but this is not really necessary as long as you do not wait toooo long between pours. I poke relief holes about 2 - 3 hours after the last layer and pour the top up wax fairly hot. Give it a go, you can always remelt them.!

Thanks so much for the reply, I usually have some overpour wax left over and it never occured to me to make chunky votives! What a great tip.:smiley2:

Hi all, I hope someone can help with a couple of questions. 1) How do you calculate the amount of wax you are going to need for the overpour when making a chunk candle? 2) As I am using straight paraffin and not adding any stearin into the overpour wax, can I use vybar or UA so I can add a good % FO load to the wax? Thanks.:smiley2:

I tried these and was really hoping that this would be a great wick for votives, but I find that they "mushroom" so much. Is this normal with zinc and is it just something that has to be trimmed regularly?

I think those are very professional looking. This picture probably does not do the label justice, but it sure looks nice. I love those jars with the flat lids, and your colours are great.

I have always admired your work Donita, and love your canes. The bear is beautiful and I am sure the bear series will do very well. (Gosh, wish I could just pop over to that store to check it out.) I just have to get all the right ingredients together and then you will have another student to help!